Collapsible tent frame



May 17, 1960 R. L.. MARCHFIELD Erm. 2,936,771

COLLAPSIBLE TENT FRAME Filed July 7. 1958 1,936,771' coLLAPslnLE FRAME lRudolph L. Marchand aua Julius Fleischer, chicago, nl. Application July 1, 195s, serial No. 746,961

1 cluuu. (claras-s) u This invention relates to tent frames and more particularly to an improved collapsible tent frame for use in a portable oabana, beach shelter, or' shelter for use in ice `fishing.

The invention comprehends a light weight frame for supporting a cover formed of canvas, plastic, or other suitable material whichcan be readily assembled with out the use of tools or other equipment and which when not in use can be collapsed or folded into a small compact unit for easy and` convenient transportation or storage.

-Although the United .Sete o element 14` of the base.

basic concept*` of employing collapsible frames for tents is not new, many of the prior art arrangements of thistype involve the use of complex or intricate devices `which are not only difficult for one without some mechanical ,ability to assemble or1disassemble, but also which are Aheavy or bulky in shape even when collapsed so as to be awkward or inconvenient to carry or store. y

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a relatively lightweight tent frame of simple designY and construction that v'can be easily and quickly.. as-

sembled or disassembled without Vthe use of tools or other equipment-'by anyone of average intelligence.

' IAnother object of the invention is the provision of a tent frame that'is rigid when assembled, but which when collapsed occupies a minimal amount of space.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a two-piece tent frame with telescoping sections, each of which can be collapsed into a rectangular unit or package which is no thicker in size than any one element thereof.

These and other objects ofthe invention will be apparent from an examination of the following description and drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a tent frame structure embodying features of the invention, with the frame being shown inthe assembled position; n

Figure 2 is a plan view of one section of the structure illustrated in Figure 1, with the section 4shown in a collapsed position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the structure illustrated in Figure 2 as seen from the right; p

and 1 Figure 4 is a detail view showing a pair of mating legs similar to those illustrated in Figure l, but embodying a modied form of the invention.

It will be understood that certain elements have been intentionally omitted from certain views where they are illustrated to better advantage in other views.

2,936,771 Patented May 17,1960

,shape forV supporting a covering such as a tent, not shown.

n The sections A andA B may be identical to eachother, 'and are preferablyformed of a lightweight material such as aluminum tubing. Each section comprises a generally rectangular base preferably rounded at the corners h av.- ing spaced parallel front and rear elements 1.2jand 14', respectively, which arev interconnected by a pair of integral spaced parallel side elements16.

A pair of preferably straight front legs 18 are per manently pivotally connected as at 20 to front element 12 of the base. The pivotal connections are located inwardly adjacent the respective side elements of the base and allow the pivotal movement of the legs relative to the base about pivotal axes which are parallel to the front and rear elements of the base. As best seen in Figure 2, front legs 18 are of a slightly lesser length than side elements 16 of the base to permit the front legs to be folded into the enclosed portion ofthe base, when the frame section is collapsed, with the front legs then being co-planar with all the elements of the base.

A pair of preferably straight spaced parallel rear legs 22 are permanently pivotally connected as at 24 to rear Pivotal connections 24 are preferably located inwardly adjacent the respective side 'elements of the base and also inwardly of front legs 18 and their respective pivotal connections 20 and, like pivotal connections 20, 'allow the pivotal movement'of -the rear legs relative to the base about pivotal axes which are parallel to the front and rear elements of the base;

As best seen in Figure 2, rear legs 22 are .of slightly lesser length than side elements 16 of the base to permit them to be folded into the enclosed portion of the base between the frontlegs, whenthe frame section is colf lapsed with the rear legs then being co-planar with the front legs and with all the elements of the base. If desired, the front legs of each section may be made slightly greater in length than the rear legs to provide a sloping surface on the top section when the device is in as- 'sembled position as seen in Figure 1.

To add rigidity to the structure, if desired, the rear legs may be interconnected by a generally U-shaped bracket 26 comprising a cross piece 28 with integral arms 30 extending from the ends of the cross piece and rigidly secured at their free ends to the respective rear legs l22 as as 32. Additionally, the rear legs may each be provided with a resilient clip 34, the function of which is described hereinafter.

-As best seen in Figure 1, a generally U-shaped support member 36 comprising a center element 38 with spaced parallel integral arms 40 extending from opposite ends thereof may be provided to offer yadded structural rigidity to each section of the frame. Member 36 is disposed relative to base 10 with arms 40 extending parallel to and outwardly adjacent side elements 16 and with center element 42 extending parallel to and preferably lying outwardly adjacent front element 12 of the base.

The arms 40 are pivotally connected by pivotal connections 42, at their free ends to the respective side elements 16 of the base. As best seen in Figure 2, arms 40 are only slightly greater in length than the distance between base front element 12 and pivotal connections 42 so that when the frame section is in a collapsed position pivotal connections 42, which permit pivotal movement of member 36 relative to the base about pivotal axes which are parallel to the base front element and to the pivotal axes of the front and rear legs, will allow the support member to bev folded into a common plane with the base and legs to provide a compact unit no greater in thickness than one element thereof.

In order to aiord added rigidity for the device, base front and rear Velements 12 and 14 and Aside elements 3 Y I6' may be interconnected by cross webs or straps 44 formed of anysoft material, such as canvas.

In order to assemble the device, each section is opened up with the rear legs Z2 extending in` a direction.l normal t'o' the base. Support member 36 is pivoted until Vcenter element 38 is resiliently clamped under spring slips. 34 of the respective rear legs 22. Front legs 18` are then unfolded until they extend in a direction normal to the base and paralleli to the rear legs. Upper section A is then placed on top of'lower section B', asseen in Figure 1,

with the front and. rear legs of the upper section in tele- Y scopic engagement with the front and rear legs, respec tively, of the lower section. s seen. in Figure l, one

front leg and one rear leg of each section may be provided' at their free ends with enlarged portions-I 46 for receiving the corresponding legs of the other section. In this way, each section can be made identical. to the other section. However, if desired, the telescoping arrangement can be modified, not shown, with all" the. legs of one section being received within' the corresponding legs of the other section.

Also, instead of providing the certain legs with the enlarged portions 46, they may be provided with collars 48, as seen in Figure 4, to receive the mating legs of the other section.

Thus, it will be seen that the invention provides a relatively lightweight tent frame of simple design and construction that can be readily assembled and that can be collapsed. into a compact unit wherein each section no greater in thickness thanV anyV one of its elements and. wherein all' the elements of4 allv 'the members and legs of each section lie withinY a common plane with the base mem-ber disposed Within the supportmember andthe legs disposed withinV the base-member.

Also, it desired', the. upper section can be used by itself to form a lone piece frame for a tent. In this case, the base member could be provided with a pair of shorter U-shaped support members (not shown) each` of which would connect to one pair of legs.

We claim:

. In a collapsible tent frame for use ina portable Cabana, a pair of substantially identical tubular upper and lower unitary sections each comprising: a rectangular base 4'. A member having spaced parallel front and rear elements interconnected by a pair of spaced parallel'side elements; a pair of exible straps disposed at right angles to each other interconnecting the front and rear elements and the side elements, respectively, of the base member; a generally U-shaped support member having a center element extending in a direction parallel to the front and rear elements of the base member and a pair of integral spaced parallel. arms extending; from the ends of said center element, the arms being parallel to said side elementsl of the" basen member and being pivotally connected at. their freeI ends toy said side elements outwardlyv thereof,` said arms being slightly greaterin length than the distancebetween. the iront element and their respective pivotal connections to the side elements; a pair of spaced parallel front legs pivotally connected at corresponding ends to the front element of said base member at points located inwardly adjacent the respective side elements, said'Y legs being. oi slightlyy lesser length than said side elements; and a pair of rear legs pivotally con.- l

nected at corresponding end's to the rear element of said base member at points. locatedinwardly adjacent the respective side elements and the respective front legs,` said rear legs being. of slightly lesser length. than said side elements andI said front legs,. said rear legs presenting clip means operableto detachably retain the center element of said support. member when the frame. is in, as.- sen-rbled position; all' of the pivotal connections being on pivotal. axes parallel to said. front and; rear elements. of the base member to allow each section. of the, frame to be collapsed into va unit whichy is ofi no greater thickness than thatof any one element. thereof;y the free ends. of the legs of the respective sectionsbeing adaptedv for. te1escopic engagementwith each? other to4 facilitate connection therebetween when the frame is in assembled position.

References Cited. in the ileff ofr thisr'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 754'6l3" Schuster Mar. l5, 1904 l',326,006 Sterhardt n--. Dec. 23 1919 2,047,178 De Coninck .luly 14, 19,36

Middleton. Aug.` 8, 1939 

